DOE Oil Price Forecasts Linear Trends Predicted Beginning From the Actual Price of Year Listed 120 1982 1981 100 80 1984 Dollars per Barrel 60 1985 1986 1987 40 Actual In planning for the future, companies must forecast the cost of doing business. Energy is an essential part of that planning. It is interesting to note that the US Department of Energy believes that the price of oil will continue to go upward, but is not able to predict what the base price will be from year to year. 1991 20 1995 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 Year after U.S. Department of Energy, 1998